Business & Employment
Transportation Systems

LUGGAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS

by Elaine Southwell

Definition
Basically a luggage processing system has one major job: to keep luggage up with their owners. To do this, the luggage processing system has three major steps to take:
  • To transfer check-in luggage to departure gates
  • To transport luggage from one gate to another gate during transfers
  • To move luggage from arrival gates to luggage-claim for collection


Where it is used
it is used most common at airports but there are similar systems in mail places to get no luggage but mail from place to place


How dose it work
The Technology Being Used:
  • Destination-coded vehicles (DCVs): DCVs are self running carts that can load and unload luggage without ever stopping. They are driven by induction motors attached to the tracks. They run at 32 kmh (20 mph) - much faster than the conveyors.
  • Automatic scanners: Scanners scan the labels placed on the luggage so that they can be traced and reach their proper destination.
  • Conveyors: Have ‘sorting machines’ and ‘junctions’ that automatically take luggage to their proper destinations.
  • Powerful computers: These computers have to keep track of every single bag and its location, the traveller’s schedule, and the schedules of the planes. The computers also control the conveyors and the DCV track switches.

Real-time baggage tracking at Paris Airport (ADP)

· Aéroports de Paris (ADP) started testing its “Baggage Reconciliation and Traceability System” (SRTB) in January2004. This new automated system, which uses 150 Hand Held Products Dolphin® 7300RF mobile computers, manages and traces baggage in Terminals 1 and 2 at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The Dolphin mobile computers provide real-time baggage management via the local Wi-Fi network. Eric Vautier, Project Manager for the SRTB project in ADP's Computer and Telecommunications Department, describes how the Hand Held Products mobile computers play a key role in the proper operation of baggage sorting and loading.

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Locating Baggage

Again using a Dolphin, a handler scans the label on each container before it is loaded into the cargo hold. This way, the reconciliation system can locate precisely and rapidly any piece of baggage in the hold, so that it can be removed if the owner is missing when the flight is due to depart

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Difficulties Associated with Baggage in Transit

The SRTB is also used to optimise the complex procedure of tracing baggage in transit between CDG 1 and CDG 2. The centralisation of data on each piece of baggage means that instances of mislaid baggage in transit can be limited, therefore reducing the additional cost and loss of time caused by rerouting.


'The Bag Factory' principle.
  • Sited in a stylish new building, the TBF is able to handle the screening and sorting of over 5500 bags per hour, or more specifically 92 bags per minute. Transfer efficiency, in order to meet the required service level for aircraft to aircraft transfer, is provided by an in-system time performance of just seven minutes. This means that from unloading and receipt into the system through tag reading, 100% HBS screening, sorting and delivery to the sort location, each bag is processed within 7 minutes

Checkpoint and Baggage-Screening Security Imaging Systems

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Designed for small and medium-sized airports, the eXaminer SX supports throughput of up to 360 bags each hour for inline checked baggage applications.

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Designed for large airports, the eXaminer XLB supports throughput of up to 1,100 bags each hour for inline checked baggage applications.

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The OnGuard Cobra system brings CT 3-D continuous flow technology to the security checkpoint, with 360° image rotation reducing rescans and secondary searches.

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The OnGuard DualUse system can be used at small and medium-sized airports to scan both carry-on items and checked baggage.

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OnGuard Streamline provides breakthrough detection capabilities: low false alarm rates in a compact footprint are ideal for aviation security checkpoints.



Flowchart of tech




















Issues/ problems
Advantages:
  • Hardly any of the work done is manually which saves stress, confusion, and money
  • Luggage can be traced
  • If done correctly, traveller can expect their bag to arrive on time
  • Is quicker and saves time
Disadvantages:
  • Sometimes traffic can occur on conveyors
  • If there is a power failure, conveyors, scanners, and DCVs may stop working
  • The machines may malfunction
  • Some content may be fragile and be broken
  • Luggage can still be lost
(“About 200,000 bags vanish without trace Of the 30 million bags lost every year”.)(Visit

//CNN News//
)


Sources

· http://www.ruthtrumpold.id.au/itgswiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Luggage
· http://www.airport-int.com/article/realtime-baggage-tracking-paris-airport-adp.html